Voltage controlled oscillator capable of linear operation at very low frequencies

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) that receives +V(IN) and −V(IN) control voltages and outputs a VCO output signal having an oscillation frequency determined by the +V(IN) and −V(IN) control voltages. The VCO comprises: 1) a storage capacitor charged linearly by a constant charge current and discharged linearly by a constant discharge current; 2) a comparator for comparing the storage capacitor voltage to an upper threshold voltage and a lower threshold voltage. The comparator output drops to a negative saturation voltage (−V(SAT)) when the storage capacitor voltage rises above the upper threshold voltage and rises to a positive saturation voltage (+V(SAT)) when the storage capacitor voltage drops below the lower threshold voltage. The VCO also comprises: 3) a constant charge current source for injecting the constant charge current into the storage capacitor when the comparator output rises to the positive saturation voltage; and 4) a constant discharge current source for draining the constant discharge current from the storage capacitor when the comparator output drops to the negative saturation voltage.

This application claims priority as a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/060,739 filed Jan. 30, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,734,742.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed generally to data processors, radio transceivers, and other circuits requiring a stable clock reference and, more specifically, to a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) capable of linear operation at very low frequencies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is a common circuit used to generate, among other things, clock signals for use in data processors, radio transceivers, and similar circuits. Typically, is the VCO is part of a phase-locked loop (PLL) that uses feedback to provide an accurate and stable clock reference signal for other circuits. The frequency of oscillations generated by a VCO are controlled by an externally applied control voltage. Two important parameters in VCO design are linearity and sweep range. Linearity correlates the change in frequency or the VCO output to the change in the control voltage. The sweep range is the range of possible frequencies produced by VCO control voltage. A problem for many voltage controlled oscillators is that there is a trade-off between the sweep range and linearity at low frequency. For any appreciably large sweep range, a conventional VCO typically exhibits non-linearity at low frequency.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved voltage controlled oscillator that has improved linearity at low frequency. More particularly, there is a need in the art for a voltage controlled oscillator that has a large sweep range while maintaining high linearity at low frequency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) capable of receiving a +V(IN) control voltage and a −V(IN) control voltage and outputting a VCO output signal having a frequency of oscillation determined by the +V(IN) control voltage and the −V(IN) control voltage. According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the VCO comprising: 1) a storage capacitor capable of being charged linearly by a constant charge current and discharged linearly by a constant discharge current; 2) a comparator capable of comparing a voltage on the storage capacitor to an upper threshold voltage and a lower threshold voltage, wherein an output of the comparator drops to a negative saturation voltage (−V(SAT)) when the storage capacitor voltage rises above the upper threshold voltage and the comparator output rises to a positive saturation voltage (+V(SAT)) when the storage capacitor voltage drops below the lower threshold voltage; 3) a constant charge current source capable of injecting the constant charge current to the storage capacitor when the comparator output rises to the positive saturation voltage; and 4) a constant discharge current source capable of draining the constant discharge current from the storage capacitor when the comparator output drops to the negative saturation voltage.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the comparator output is coupled to the VCO output.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the constant charge current is determined by the +V(IN) control voltage.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the constant discharge current is determined by the −V(IN) control voltage.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the constant charge current source comprises a PNP-type bipolar junction transistor having a base coupled to the +V(IN) control voltage, an emitter coupled to the comparator output via a load resistor, and a collector coupled to the storage capacitor.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the constant charge current source comprises a NPN-type bipolar junction transistor having a base coupled to the −V(IN) control voltage, an emitter coupled to the comparator output via the load resistor, and a collector coupled to the storage capacitor.

According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, the comparator comprises: 1) an operational amplifier having an inverting input coupled to the storage capacitor; 2) a first resistor (R1) having a first terminal coupled to an output of the operational amplifier and a second terminal coupled to a non-inverting input of the operational amplifier; and 3) a second resistor (R2) having a first terminal coupled to ground and a second terminal coupled to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier, wherein the operational amplifier output comprises the comparator output.

According to a yet further embodiment of the present invention, the upper threshold voltage is determined by the product: [(R1)/(R1+R2)][+V(SAT)].

In one embodiment of the present invention, the lower threshold voltage is determined by the product: [(R1)/(R1+R2)][−V(SAT)].

In another embodiment of the present invention, the constant charge current is determined by a difference between the positive saturation voltage and the +V(IN) control voltage and constant discharge current is determined by a difference between the negative saturation voltage and the −V(IN) control voltage.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers designate like objects, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary processing system in which a clocked circuit receives a clock signal from a phase locked loop (PLL) containing a voltage controlled oscillator in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary voltage controlled oscillator in greater detail according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows the waveforms for the output voltage, V(O), and the capacitor C1 voltage, V(C), of an exemplary voltage controlled oscillator according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates the frequency-voltage plot of an exemplary voltage controlled oscillator according to the principles of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates the exemplary voltage controlled oscillator in greater detail according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 5, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present invention in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present invention may be implemented in any suitably arranged data processor, radio transceiver, or other circuit requiring a voltage controlled oscillator that operates linearly at low frequency.

FIG. 1 illustrates exemplary processing system 100 in which clocked circuit 125 receives a clock signal from a phase locked loop (PLL) containing voltage controlled oscillator 115 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Processing system 100 comprises phase detector 105, charge pump and loop filter block 110, voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 115, divider circuit 120, and clocked circuit 125. The PLL comprises phase detector 105, charge pump and loop filter block 110, VCO 115, and divider circuit 120.

Clocked circuit 125 is intended to represent generically any type of circuit component that required a known stable clock reference signal. Thus, clocked circuit 125 may comprise a data processor, a signal processor, a radio transceiver, an ASIC device, or the like.

Phase detector 105 detects the phase difference between the output of divider circuit 120 and a crystal oscillator reference signal and generates a sequence of pulses in which the pulse-width varies according to the magnitude of the phase difference. For example, the crystal oscillator reference signal may be a 1 MHz signal and the divider circuit 120 may divide the 8 MHz reference frequency (REF. FREQ.) produced by VCO 115 by a value of N=8 to produce a 1 MHz output. If the two 1 MHz signals are exactly in phase, the pulses produced by phase detector 105 have a pre-determined width. The pulses are converted to a smooth DC VCO control voltage by charge pump and loop filter block 110. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the VCO control voltage may be a differential voltage signal. The VCO control voltage controls the frequency of the output of VCO 115, which is applied as a clock signal to clocked circuit 125.

If the 1 MHz frequency of the output of divider circuit 120 begins to lag the 1 MHz crystal oscillator (i.e., actual reference carrier frequency is too low), the pulses produced by phase detector 105 increase in width. The wider pulses are converted to a larger VCO control voltage by charge pump and loop filter block 110. The larger VCO control voltage increases the frequency of the output of VCO 115, which increases the frequency of the output of divider circuit 120. Similarly, if the 1 MHz frequency of the output of divider circuit 120 begins to lead the 1 MHz crystal oscillator (i.e., actual reference carrier frequency is too high), the pulses produced by phase detector 105 decrease in width. The narrower pulses are converted to a smaller VCO control voltage by charge pump and loop filter block 110. The smaller VCO control voltage decreases the frequency of the output of VCO 115, which decreases the frequency of the output of divider circuit 120.

The value of the divider, N, used by divider circuit 120 may be set by clocked circuit 125 or by some external controller (not shown). In some instances, it may be necessary or desirable to operate clocked circuit 125 at an extremely low frequency or to at least supply a very low-frequency clock signal (along with one or more high-frequency clock signals) to clocked circuit 125. To meet this requirement, the present invention provides a voltage controlled oscillator that is capable of linear operation at very low frequency. The highest oscillation frequency possible depends only on the parasitic capacitances of the components used. As a result, a VCO according to the principles of the present invention is useful in applications in which high linearity and a large sweep range are desired.

FIG. 2 illustrates voltage controlled oscillator 115 in greater detail according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Voltage controlled oscillator 115 comprises operational amplifier 210, NPN-type bipolar junction transistor 220, PNP-type bipolar junction transistor 230, capacitor C1, and resistors R1, R2, and R3. VCO 115 receives a differential voltage control signal, [+V(IN), −V(IN)], from charge pump and loop filter block 110 and generates the output voltage V(O). Operational amplifier 210 operates as a comparator and transistors 220 and 230 operate as voltage controlled current sources charging capacitor C1.

The voltage across capacitor C1 depends on the state of the comparator and the control voltage [+V(IN), −V(IN)] applied at the transistor base terminals. When the comparator is in positive saturation, capacitor C1 is charged by a constant current supplied by transistor 230. When the comparator is in negative saturation, transistor 220 supplies the current to discharge capacitor C1.

FIG. 3 shows the waveforms for the output voltage, V(O), and the capacitor C1 voltage, V(C). Operational amplifier 210 operates as a comparator due to positive feedback provided by resistors R1 and R2. The non-inverting input of operational amplifier 210 is labeled V+ and the inverting input of operational amplifier 210 is labeled V−. The output voltage V(O) swings between its saturation values +V(SAT) and −V(SAT). The output V(O) changes from +V(SAT) to −V(SAT) when V−>βV(SAT), where: β=R 2/(R 1+R 2). The output changes from −V(SAT) to +V(SAT) when V−<−βV(SAT).

After the circuit reaches a steady state, assume that output voltage V(O) of the operational amplifier has just saturated at V(O)=V(SAT). Transistor 230 is in its active region if V(SAT)−V(IN)≧V(t), where V(t) is the cut-in voltage of transistor 230. Transistor 220 is cut-off because its emitter terminal is at a higher voltage that its base terminal. As a result, I(2)=[V(SAT)−V(t)−V(IN)]/R 3 and I(1)=0. Therefore, the current through capacitor C1 is: I(C)=I(1)+I(2)=I(2). The voltage V(C) across capacitor C1 rises linearly and is given by $\begin{matrix} {{V(C)} = {{\left\lbrack {{I(2)}/{C1}} \right\rbrack t} - {\beta\quad V\quad({SAT})}}} \\ {{= {{\left\lbrack {\left\lbrack {{V({SAT})} - {V(t)} - {V\left( {\operatorname{<<}1>>IN} \right)}} \right\rbrack/{RC}} \right\rbrack t} - {\beta\quad{V({SAT})}}}},} \end{matrix}$ where t denotes time.

When V(C)=V−=βV(SAT) after time T1, the output V(O) changes to −V(SAT). Time T1 is computed as follows: V(C)(T 1)=βV(SAT) [[ V (SAT)−V(t)−V<<1>>( IN )]/R 3 C]T 1−βV(SAT)=βV(SAT) T 1=[2βV (SAT)R 3 C]/[V(SAT)−V(t)−V(<<1>>IN )].  (1)

After time T1, transistor 230 is cut-off because its base-emitter junction is reverse biased. However, transistor 220 is in its active region if −V(SAT)+V(IN)≧V(t). As a result, I(2)=0 and the current through the capacitor C1 is given by I(C)=I(1)=[−V(SAT)+V(IN)+V(t)]/R 3 .

The voltage across capacitor C1 fails linearly and is given by: $\begin{matrix} {{{V(C)} = {{\left\lbrack {{I(C)}/{C1}} \right\rbrack\left( {t - {T1}} \right)} + {\beta\quad V\quad({SAT})}}};} \\ {= {{\left\lbrack {\left\lbrack {{- {V({SAT})}} + {V({IN})} + {V(t)}} \right\rbrack/{R3C1}} \right\rbrack\left( {t - {T1}} \right)} + {\beta\quad{{V({SAT})}.}}}} \end{matrix}$

At time t−T1=T2, the capacitor C1 voltage V(C)=−βV(SAT), and the output switches to +V(SAT), thereby starting a new cycle of oscillation. T2 is found as follows V(C)(T 1+T 2)=−βV(SAT) [[−V(SAT)+V(IN)+V(t)]/R 3 C 1 ]T 2+βV(SAT)=−βV(SAT) T 2=[2βV(SAT)R 3 C 1 ]/[V(SAT)−V(t)−V(IN)]  (2)

The frequency of oscillation, f, is defined as f=1/[T 1+T 2]  (3) Substituting Equations 1 and 2 in Equation 3, we obtain f=[V(SAT)−V(t)−V(<<1>>IN )]/[4βV(SAT)R 3 C 1 ]  (4)

From Equation 4 it is clear that f has a linear relationship with the input voltage V(IN). As V(IN) is increased toward V(SAT), the frequency of oscillation approaches 0 Hz.

FIG. 4 illustrates the frequency-voltage plot of exemplary voltage controlled oscillator 115. The plot consists of two regions: 1) a linear region in which the oscillation-frequency depends on the control voltage; and 2) a saturation region in which the frequency is limited by parasitic effects such as the slew-rate of operational amplifier 510.

FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary voltage controlled oscillator 115 in greater detail according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, metal-oxide-silicon field effect transistors (MOSFET) are used. In FIG. 5, voltage controlled oscillator 115 comprises operational amplifier 510, resistors R1 and R2, inverter 515, N-type transistor 521, P-type transistor 522, N-type transistor 523, P-type transistor 524, capacitor CS, voltage controlled current (VCC) source 530, and voltage controlled current (VCC) sink 540. VCC source 530 comprises P-type transistor 531, P-type transistor 532, resistor R3, and amplifier 535. VCC source 540 comprises N-type transistor 541, P-type transistor 542, resistor R4, and amplifier 545.

Transistors 522 and 523 charge and discharge capacitor CS alternately. Operational amplifier 510 is used a comparator. The comparator UTP (Upper Trigger Point) and LTP (Lower Trigger Point) voltages are +βV(SAT) and −βV(SAT), respectively, where β=(R2)/(R1+R2). The output of inverter 515 is the inverse of the output of amplifier 510 and clips the swing from between +V(SAT) and −V(SAT) to between VDD (e.g., +5V) and VSS (e.g., −5V).

When the output of amplifier 510 drops to −V(SAT), the output of inverter 510, V(O), rises to +5 volts, and transistor 523 is switched ON and transistor 522 is switched OFF. As a result, capacitor C5 discharges into VCC sink 540. As capacitor CS is discharged with a constant current source, its voltage drops in a linear fashion with time. When its voltage crosses the LTP of the comparator circuit formed by amplifier 510, the output of amplifier 510 swings to +V(SAT), and V(O), the output of inverter 510, drops to −5 volts, switching transistor 523 OFF and switching transistor 5240N. Capacitor CS is then charged with the current supplied by VCC source 530. The oscillations repeat when the capacitor CS voltage crosses the UTP of the comparator formed by amplifier 510 and resistors R1 and R2. Transistors 521 and 524 are used to load transistors 531 and 541, respectively, when transistors 522 and 523 are switched OFF. This prevents VCC source 530 and VCC sink 540 from operating in non-linear regions.

In order to ensure that VCC source 530 and VCC sink 540 operate as a voltage controlled constant current source (or sink), it is necessary that transistors 531 and 532 be matched as closely as possible and transistors 541 and 542 be matched as closely as possible. Additionally, transistors 531, 532, 541, and 541 must all operate in their pinch-off regions. Transistors 531 and 532 form a current mirror, since both have the same gate-to-source voltages. Transistors 541 and 542 also form a current mirror, since both have the same gate-to-source voltages.

For example, for transistors 541 and 542, this condition requires that: V(REF)>V(N)−V(TN)  (5) where V(N) is the voltage at the gate terminals of transistors 541 and 542 with respect to ground, and V(TN) is the threshold voltage of transistors 541 and 542. When the transistors are pinched-off, the drain current ID through transistor 542 is given by  I _(D) =[V(IN)−V(REF)]/R =k(W/L) [V(N)−V′−V(TN)]²[1+λ(V′−V(REF))]  (6) where W/L denotes the aspect ratio of transistor 542, and V′ denotes the output voltage of operational amplifier 545. Equation 6 may be used to find V′, which must be in the linear region of operational amplifier 545. The same drain current I_(D) flows in transistor 541. The current in transistor 541 is the constant discharging current that discharges capacitor C5 in a linear fashion. Similarly, the constant current in transistor 532 is mirrored in transistor 531. The current in transistor 531 is the constant charging current that charges capacitor C5 in a linear fashion.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, those skilled in the art should understand that they can make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 

1. A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) receiving positive and negative control voltages on which an oscillation frequency of a signal is based, the VCO comprising: a storage capacitor linearly charged by a constant charge current and linearly discharged by a constant discharge current; a comparator comparing a voltage on the storage capacitor to upper and lower threshold voltages, wherein an output of the comparator drops to a negative saturation voltage when the storage capacitor voltage exceeds one of the upper and lower threshold voltages and rises to a positive saturation voltage when the storage capacitor voltage exceeds the other of the upper and lower threshold voltages; a constant charge current source injecting constant charge current to the storage capacitor when the comparator output rises to one of the positive and negative saturation voltages; and a constant discharge current source draining constant discharge current from the storage capacitor when the comparator output drops to the other of the positive and negative saturation voltages.
 2. The VCO as set forth in claim 1, wherein the comparator output is coupled to the VCO output.
 3. The VCO as set forth in claim 2, wherein the constant charge current is determined by the positive control voltage.
 4. The VCO as set forth in claim 3, wherein the constant discharge current is determined by the negative control voltage.
 5. The VCO as set forth in claim 3, wherein the constant charge current source comprises a bipolar junction transistor having a base coupled to the positive control voltage, an emitter coupled to the comparator output via a load resistor, and a collector coupled to the storage capacitor.
 6. The VCO as set forth in claim 3, wherein the constant discharge current source comprises a bipolar junction transistor having a base coupled to the negative control voltage, an emitter coupled to the comparator output via a load resistor, and a collector coupled to the storage capacitor.
 7. The VCO as set forth in claim 2, wherein the constant charge current is determined by the negative control voltage.
 8. The VCO as set forth in claim 7, wherein the constant discharge current is determined by the positive control voltage.
 9. The VCO as set forth in claim 7, wherein the constant charge current source comprises a bipolar junction transistor having a base coupled to the negative control voltage, an emitter coupled to the comparator output via a load resistor, and a collector coupled to the storage capacitor.
 10. The VCO as set forth in claim 7, wherein the constant discharge current source comprises a bipolar junction transistor having a base coupled to the positive control voltage, an emitter coupled to the comparator output via a load resistor, and a collector coupled to the storage capacitor.
 11. The VCO as set forth in claim 1, wherein the comparator comprises: an operational amplifier having a first input coupled to said storage capacitor; a first resistor having a first terminal coupled to an output of the operational amplifier and a second terminal coupled to a second input of the operational amplifier; and a second resistor having a first terminal coupled to ground and a second terminal coupled to the second input of the operational amplifier, wherein the operational amplifier output is the comparator output.
 12. The VCO as set forth in claim 1, wherein the constant charge current is determined by a difference between the positive saturation voltage and the positive control voltage and the constant discharge current is determined by a difference between the negative saturation voltage and the negative control voltage.
 13. A processing system including the VCO according to claim 1, the processing system comprising: a clocked circuit operating at a frequency defined by an external clock signal; and a phase-locked loop coupled to the clocked circuit and supplying the external clock signal, the phase-locked loop comprising: a frequency divider dividing a frequency of the external clock signal by N; a phase detector detecting a phase difference between a frequency divided output of the frequency divider and an input reference signal and generating a phase difference signal based upon the detected phase difference; a charge pump and loop filter circuit converting the phase difference signal to the positive and negative control voltages; and the VCO. 